Machine for dicing fruit and the like



Feb. 8, 19438.V E, GRAY 2,107,293

MACHINE FOR DICING FRUIT AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. l2, 1931 `2Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 8, 1938. l H, E; GRAY 2,167,293

MACHINE FOR DICING FRUIT AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. l2, 1951 y 2Sheets-Shea?. 2

g 'I l W/A'z 22 A sky* l az f u o @au 43. Y 45l i 527 15 IN VEN TOR.g55/P7 E 6km/f Patented Feb. 8, 1938 .2,107,293

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR DICING FRUIT AND THE LIKEHerbert E. Gray, San Jose, Calif.

Application October 12, 1931, Serial No. 568,293

21 Claims. (Cl. 146-78) The invention relates to dicing or slicingmaconnected to a power unit drives all the moving chines, andparticularly to fruit dicing machines. mechanisms of the machine insynchronism with The primary object of the invention is to proeachother. vide an apparatus whereby large quantities of In general, themachine operates as follows:

fruit or other similar material may be cut into the fruit is spread inone or more layers over the 5 cubes eiciently, and in continuousoperations, top of the conveyor 'I and is carried below the cuteachoperation dicing a comparatively large ter 9. The cutter 9 is thenlowered. The cutter mass or quantity of fruit. 9 is adapted to cut thefruit therebelow into col- Another object of the invention is to provideumn-like portions. When the cutter 9 thus con- 10 a dicer in which acutter is provided to cut the fines column-like portions lof thequantity of 10 fruit or other material into column-like portions, fruit,the transversely acting slicer mechanism and a transversely cutting setof blades being pro- I2 is moved .across the cutter to cut across thevided to cut across said portions while the fruit is fruit columns inthe latter, thereby dicing the confined in the cutter; means beingprovided to same. Thereafter the cutter 9 and the slicer I2 actuate thevarious cutters and sets of blades in are lifted together away from thetop of the con- 15 synchronism; and means being also provided to veyor Iand the latter is moved ahead to disintermittently feed layers of fruitbelow the charge the diced fruit at its farthest end and to cutters.bring another mass of material or fruit into Other objects andadvantages are to provide a registry with the cutter 9. The aboveoperations machine for dicing fruit and the like that will be areperformed repeatedly and automatically, and

2O superior in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness of the only controlnecessary is the spreading of 2 construction, positiveness of operation,and fruit onto the top of the conveyor 'I. facility and convenience inuse and general ef- In detail the endless conveyor I is supported onciency. sprockets I6 adjustably mounted on the frame In thisspecification and the annexed draw- 6 in the usual manner. The conveyor'I itself 25 ings, the invention is illustrated in the form consists ofa pair of parallel endless chains I1 considered to be the best, but itis to be underengaging the respective sprockets I6, and of stood thatthe invention is not limited to such transversely extended flat bars I8secured to oporm, because it may be embodied in other forms; posed linksof the chains I'I to form a flexible supand it is also to be understoodthat in and by porting surface to carry the fruit. The bars I8 3o theclaims following the description, it is desired may be made of suitablemetal, wood, or hard to cover the invention in whatsoever form it mayrubber, or any suitable composition adapted to be embodied. form aplatform for the cutting operation.

'Ihe invention is clearly illustrated in the ac- Alongside each edge ofthe top of the conveyor companying drawings, wherein- Il is a shield I9secured on the frame 6 to pre- 35 Fig. l is a side view of the machineconstructed vent the sliding off of the fruit from the conveyor inaccordance with my invention. l. The shields I9 extend to the cutter 9.Along- Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine, partly in side thedischarge end of the conveyor 'I is arsection. ranged a chute 2Iextending from the cutter 9 40 Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the dicingelements rearwardly to receive and guide the diced fruit to 40 of themachine, in cutting position. a suitable receptacle.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the dicer mechanism Longitudinally spacedprotuberances 22 are and its actuating cams. provided on the conveyor 7.The protuberances In carrying out my invention, I make use of a 22 arearranged in opposed pairs at the opposite frame 6 on which is supporteda horizontally edges of the conveyor 'I and the pairs are longi- 45arranged, endless conveyor 'I to carry the fruit tudinally spaced fromeach other to a distance thereon, in one layer or in a plurality oflayers, .equal to the length of the cutter 9. one on the top of theother. A vertical frame The conveyor I is advanced intermittently.structure 8 is provided adjacent an end of the Each advancing movementof the conveyor I is conveyor l. A vertical cutter 9 and its reciproofthe same length as the longitudinal spacing 50 cating mechanism II aresupported on the frame of the protuberances 22. At the start theconstructure 8. A transversely acting slider mechaveyor I is in aposition to align two adjacent pairs nism I2 is also supported on thecutter 9 and on of protuberances 22 with the respective ends of the thestructure 8. The conveyor 1 is driven by an cutter 9, so that after eachadvancement of the intermittent driving mechanism I3. A pulley I4conveyor 'I two adjacent pairs of protuberances 55 22 .are aligned "withthe ends of the cutter 9. A platform 20 is'xed below the cutter 9 sothat the conveyor 1 moves thereover. Thus the portion of the conveyor 1.on which the cutter 9 works, is stiifenedi The conveyor 1 is driven by agear 23 on the shaft of the sprockets I6 atV the discharge end of theupright frame members 8 and being journale'dv The connection between`wheel 21 advances the conveyor 1 tothe required distance.

y 33Y is divided into a plurality of column-like spaces Y f co theconveyor 1. The gear 23 is in mesh with another gear 24 on another shaft26 journaled in the vertical frame member 8 on one side of theconveyor 1. The gear 24 is xed to a driven wheel'21 of a Geneva drivingmechanism. The wheel 21 has four cogs 28 to be engaged successively -bya pin 29 extended from a driving disc 3| parallel with the wheel 21 Yandcontinuously rotated by a rotary shaft 32, the latter being extendedacross therein at both ends. the disc 3| and the wheel 21 through thepin 29 and cogs 28 is such that the pin Slides into and out of one ofthe cogs 28 during each revolution Then the conveyor 1 is ata'standstill until the pin 29y is brought into engagement with thesuccessive cog 2B.

which are xed two sets of cutter blades 34 and 36. vThe blades 34 extendtransversely above the Yconveyor 1 while the blades 36 extendlongitudinally above the conveyor 1 and across the blades 38. Each blade34 and 36 is made in vertically spaced sections with a slot or clearance31V between adjacent sections. The sections of the longitudinal blades36 are secured into the blades 34 and they cross by lap joints 38 formedby interlocking kerfs in the respective blades. In this mannerV theVspace inclosed byl the cutter frame withslots in the sides thereof. Thelower edges of the blades V34 and 3B and alsofthe lower edges of the:blade sections are sharpened to form cutting edges. TheY lower corners39 of the cutter frame 33V are beveled to fit over .the beveled sides ofthe respective*protuberances 23 on the conveyor 1. Y l Y From theopposite sides of the cutter frame 33 extend slides 4| which vare guidedon vertical Vguides 42 on the inside of the upright frame members V8,soV as to guide the entire cutter 9 in its reciprocating movement.toward and away from the conveyor 1.

The reciprocating mechanism includes a cam Y Y disc 43V`inside of andadjacent to each slide 4|.

The cam discs 43 are keyed on the shaft 32to rotate therewith. InY theface of Veach cam disc 43 facing the Vadjacent slide 4| is a cam groove44;

Each slide 4| has a pin 46 extended inwardly from Y .its top and intothe adjacent .camV groove 44.

. The eccentric grooves 44 of the opposite cam discs 43y'are alignedsogas to raise and lower the slides 4| as the shaft 32 is rotated.Consequently as the shaft 32 is'rotated, it rotates the discs 43 andraises and lowersthe slides 4| thereby reciprocating the cutter 9once'fo'r. each revolution of the shaft 32. The Geneva motion ofthe disc3| is so adjusted on the end of the shaft V3.2 that `it moves 'I hecutter 9 consists of arcutter frame 33 in 'the ends of said straightportions.

the conveyor 1 when the cutter 9 is raised, so as to discharge the cubedor diced fruit and bring uncut fruit below the cutter 9. 1

The shaft 32 is driven through a gearV and pinion drive 45 from a driveshaft 41 journaled in the upright frame member 8. The shaft 41 isconnected to a prime mover by the pulley |4 keyed thereon, or by othersuitable drive mechanism.

Ejector bars y48 are xedly extended verticallyV from a support 53fastened to the upright frame member 8. The bars 48 are in registry withthe column-like spaces formed by the blades 34 and 36. When the cutter 9is raised it is moved over Said bars 48 so that the latter eject the cutfruit that might adhere to the bladesy 34 and 35.

` The cutter frame 33 has an apron 49 extended downwardly from eachlongitudinal side thereof in continuation of the planes of the shieldsI9 to prevent the sidewise dropping of the fruit from the conveyor 1belowV the cutter 9. Y shields-49 clear 4the edges of the conveyor 1 toallow the vertical movement of the former with the cutter frame 33. .Y

The'transverse slicing or vdicing of the fruit is performed after thecutter 9 is loweredontorthe.

conveyor 1. The transversely slicing mechanism |2 includes a pluralityof double edged blades 5| slidably guided in the respective clearanceslots spective edges of the conveyor 1 so as to accom-V modate theblades 5|' therein in an out ofway position relatively to blades 34 and36 of the cut- Y ter 9. Y

Y A pin 53'extends outwardly from each head 52.V

The apron A swinging arm 54 is fixed on each end of a rockv ing shaft 55which latter is journaled on the top downwardly, one inthe front andthey other in the rear of the cutterframe 9. each arm 54 terminates in atriangular loop` 51, the base of each triangular loop V51 being disposedtoward the conveyor 1. The pins 53 extend into the respective loops 51so as to be engagedrby said The' free end of :sok

loops 51' as the arms 54 are swungin either direction,.yet allow thepins 53 to move upwardly and downwardly in the loops 51 as the cutter 9is raised or lowered.

Y The arms 54 are swung by a cam 58. The vcam 58 is freely rotatable onthemiddle portion of the shaft 32 and is fixed to a gear 59 alsorotatable the straight groove portions ride over the pin and roller S3,the Varjm 54 is held at an end Volfrits stroke in an out of wayposition. When the inclined portions ride over the pin and roller 53,the arm 54 is'swung'acros's the entirev width of the'cutter frame 33.Thefswinging of one arm 54 rocks the shaft' 56 and simultaneously swingsThe gear 59 is driven by a pin# Thus whileY of the upright frame 8. Thearms-54 extend ,45'

the other varm,EA-therewith so that both heads 52 arejengaged and movedsimultaneously, carrying theblades 5l across the slots 3l to cut acrossthe column-like fruit portions confined between the blades 3d andv.pinion EE! are designed in such ratio that the arms 5d are swung onceeach time the cutter 9 is lowered onto the conveyor l.' Hence the blades5I slice in opposite directions during successive slicing operations. v

The heads 52 are positively guided on a lineal path by transverse guideflanges Sli on the cutter frame 33 which are slidably engaged A'bysuitably, recessed or grooved, enlarged ends Vt8 of the Aheads 52,.

The aforedescribed machine efficiently cuts fruit or the likeinto cubeskof desired sizes by continuous and well synchronized operation. Thefruit or the like can be spread on Atheconveyor as the machine is inoperation and is automatically carried to the cutter 9 which cuts incolumns; thereafter the Slicer lZis swung across automatically to slicethe fruit into cubes. Then theV cutter ,9 and slicer i2 areautomatically raised ,and the conveyor 'I again advanced so as to repeatthe dicing operation. The machine is positive in operation, it does notrequire any elaborate adjustment nor manual control therefore it readilylends itself to effective application by the labor ordinarily available.

Having thus described this invention, what-I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

.1. In an apparatus of the character described, a conveyor, areciprocating cutter supported above the conveyor to be moved vonto theconveyor and cut the material carried on the conveyor, said cutter beingformed of a plurality of blades arranged in intersecting rows and havingtransverse aligned guide-slots formed in the blades, another set ofblades movable across the blades of said cutter in said slots to cutacross the material in the cutter, means to intermittently move theconveyor `to said cutter, means to reciprocate said cutter when theconveyor isstopped therebelow; and means to swing the transverse bladesacross said cutter when the latter is in cutting position, each of thesaid set of blades being double edged to cut when swung in eitherdirection. 2. In an apparatus of the character described, a conveyor, areciprocating cutter abovev the conveyor to cut the material carried bysaid conveyor, guides through the cutter, a set of blades movablethrough said guides across the cutter to cut transversely through thematerial confined in said cutter,A means to intermittently move theconveyor so that each movement of the conveyor advances the conveyorsurface to a distance substantially equal with the length of the cutter,means operated in synchronism with the conveyor to lower the cutter ontothe conveyor after each intermittent movement, and means operated insynchronism Vwith the reciprocationv of the cutter to swing the set oftransverse blades across l of blades, and, self-adjustable means ofconnec- The gear;59 and 1 across the cutter with said arms, yet allowthe movement ofthe set of blades with the cutter.

,4. A fruit dicer comprising a frame, a contion between the swingingarms. and said blade 1 holding means to allow the swinging of theblades.

veyor, a vertically movable cutter frame on the rst frame beingreciprocated above a portion of the conveyor, two sets of blades in thecutter frame, one set being arranged across the other v to cut they massof fruiton the conveyor into a ing at right angles to the direction ofthe cutter movement, a third set of blades slidable in said slots to cutacross the said column-like portions of the mass of fruit on theconveyor, the blades of the third set being double edged to cut ineither direction and being movable into an out of way positionrelatively to the blades in the cutter; swinging arms extended from theframe, one at the rear, the other at the front of the cutter frame, aloop at the free end of each arm; an element tying the ends of the thirdset of blades together, each element being adapted to be engaged by saidloop and swung by the arms, and beingalso movable in the loop when thecutter frame is reciprocated; means to intermittently move the conveyorthe length of the cutter frame; means to reciprocate the cutter frameafter each movement of the conveyor; and

means to swing the arms and the third set of b-lades across the firstsets of blades when the latter are upon the conveyor.

5. A fruit dicing mechanism comprising a movable fruit supportingmember, a member having pockets with fruit cutting edges at one sidethere'- of, a cutter member movable transversely of said member havingpockets, discharge means regstering with said pockets, and means foractuating said member having 'pockets to divide fruit on said supportingmember and to receive the divided fruit into said pockets, means foractuating said transversely movable cutter member to divide the fruit insaid pockets into sections, means telescoping said pocket dischargemeans and said pockets to free the latter of the fruit sections anddeposit such sections upon said supporting member, and means foradvancing said i supporting member after the fruit sections aredeposited thereon.

6. Fruit dicing mechanism comprising an acrst cutter, cutter dischargemeans, and means .for actuating said conveyor and for actuating saidcutters in a selected sequence whereby said cutters operate onefollowing the other, and

means for actuating said cutter discharge whereby the Afruit cut isdischarged onto said conveyor by said discharge means and advanced bysaid conveyor away from said cutters. '7. Fruit dicing mechanismcomprising a movable support for a layer of fruit, a cutting 'devicehaving pockets and movable toward and vaway from said support, saidcutting member dividing fruit on said support into columns and andvthrough said first fruit cutting lmember to for preventing thedisplacement of fruit from` said conveyona reciprocating'member having a`with said reciprocating member, moving saidv reciprocating member'intoproximity withY said divide the columns of fruit in said pocketsintocubes, an ejector in the path of the pockets in said first mentionedcutting member, and actuating means for advancing a section of saidsupport to a position beneath said first mentioned cutting member, meansfor moving said rst cutg ting member toward such section Aof saidsupport, means for moving said second cutting de-V vice through thepockets of said first cutting member, means for moving said rst cuttingmember away from said supportrand telescoping the pockets in said firstVcutting member over said ejector, and means for advancing said supporttoY present another section thereof for registry with said iirst`cutting member.

8. In combination, a movable support for fruit, opposed guide `means onsaid support for maintaining fruit against displacement therefrom,Y areciprocating cutter comprising a pluralityof `pockets and having atransverse dimension slightly less than the transverse dimension of saidopposed guide means, means for moving said cutter between said guidemeans and into prox? imity with said support, a second cutter operable.

through theY pockets in said first cutter when said first cutter is inproximity to saidA support, and an ejector for each of said pockets, themeans for moving said first cutter retracting said rst cuttertelescopingly upon said ejectors.

9. In combination, an intermittently movableY conveyor for supporting alayer of fruit and kadapted to be advanced apredetermined distance ateach movement, opposed guide members plurality of cells with cuttingedges'at one side thereof, a second cutter movable 'transversely of Vthecells in said reciprocating member when the latter is in proximity tosaid support, eject'ors `-registering with each ofv said cells andeffective when said reciprocating member is moved away'from'said'supporn and means for actuating said conveyor -to registersuccessive sections thereof successive sections of said conveyor one ata Ytime, actuating said second cutter at each registration ofV saidreciprocating member ywith a section of said conveyor Vand lifting saidre-VK ciprocatingrcutter to render said ejectors eiTec-j Vtivepreliminary to each succeeding movement of said conveyor. Y'

10.A An automatic fruit dicing machine com- Y 1 prising a .reciprocatingreceptacle having pockets having spaced transverse slots with cuttingedges at oneV side thereof forming parallel, hollow co1- umnar pocketsdivided transversely bythe spaced slots, means for reciprocating saidreceptacle,

' a transverse cutting member having blades registering with the slotsin said pockets, means for moving said transverse cutting member throughsaidvslots,rejector means in the path of said pockets and effective assaid receptacle approaches a predetermined positionV to clear saidpockets of adhering material. s s

11. In a material dicing machine, the combina- Y tion of a transversely`slotted cellular Vreceptacle having Vcutting edges at one side thereof,means Y' for moving-'said receptacle toward and away from material to bediced, asecond cutting member'having cutting edges complemental to theslots in -said receptacle, means formoving said second membertransversely through vthe slots:V of said receptacle, and means formovingv saidv second cutting member bodily with said recep,

tacle andv means operating in synchronism with the movement of saidcutters for automatically discharging the cut material from saidreceptacle after the movement of said second cutter through the slotsofsaid receptacle.

12. In anv automatic fruit or vegetablefdicing machine, the combinationof` meansforming a support for a body ofV fruit or vegetable to bediced, twocutting members, one of Ysaid cutting members forming areceptacle having elongated parallel extending cells, said cells andreceptacle-having spaced Aapart transversely extend-` y ing slots, theother of. said cutting members comrprising a pluralityl ofv spaced apartparallel cutting edges disposed in registration with the slots of saidfirst cutting member, means forv moving the two cutting members bodilytogether to-Y cause the cellular cutter to form the same intoA felongated-columns, means for moving the'second cutter relatively totheflrst cutter and through the slotsofsaid first cutter to slice theelongated columns ofmaterial, and means for` moving said cuttersL bodilyaway fromsaid cutting platform whereby-to leave the diced material incut posi-` tion and free of both cutters.

13. Inan automatic fruit or vegetable'dicing machine, the combination ofmeans forming a` support for a body of fruit' or vegetable to be diced,two. cutting members, one of said cutting members forming a receptaclehaving elongated parallel extending cells, said cells and receptaclehaving spacedapart transversely extending slots, the

other of said cutting members comprising a plurality ofV spaced apartparallelcutting edges di'sposed in registration with the slots ofsaidrfrst cutting member, means for moving thetwo cutting members bodilyVtogether to cause the cellular cutter to form 'the same into elongatedYcolumns, means for moving the second cutter relatively to the i'lrstcutter and through the slots-cf said iirst cutter to slicerthe elongatedcolumns of material; means for moving said cutters bodily away from saidcutting platform .whereby to leave the diced material in cut position`and free of both cutters,y and ejector mechanism operable during'thelast'V mentioned movement of the cutters for'ejecting thefcut materialfrom the cellular cutter.

Y 14. An automatic machine for dicing rmateriall comprising thecombination of a stationary base, a material holding conveyormovablymountedon said base,.means for moving saidlconveyor along apredetermined path=relative-to saidbase,a first Y t cutterrmovablymountedon 'saidbase said cutter being of cellular construction moving ina direction transverse tothe movement offsaidconveyor, saidfcutterbeingl provided in such V*transverse direction with spaced*l apartrelatively narrow slots, means for' moving said elongated cutter from aposition relatively remoter'frornsaid platform to a cutting positionadjacent saidplatform and back Vto its original position in cyclicintermittent move- Y Vment whereby when incutting position it will cut:

material on said platfonn into elongated stripsof cellular-likecross-section corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of thecellsofthe cutter, a5 second cutter having aV plurality off spaced apartlmoving said second cutter relatively to said iirst cutter when saidfirst cutter has cut the elongated strips from the material .and is in`a stationary position.

l5. An automatic machine for dicing material comprising the combinationof a stationary base, a material holding conveyor movably mounted onsaid base, means for moving said conveyor along a predetermined pathrelative to said base, a first cutter movably mounted on said base, saidcutter being or cellular construction elongated in a directiontransverse to the movement of said conveyor, said cutter being providedin such transverse direction with spaced apart relatively narrow slots,means for moving said cutter from a position relatively remote from saidplatform to a cutting position adjacent said platform and back to itsoriginal position in cyclic intermittent movement whereby when incutting position it will cut material on said platform into elongatedstrips of cellular-like cross-section corresponding to thecross-sectional shape of the cells of the cutter, a second cutter havinga plurality of spaced apart blades, each one of the blades registeringwith one of the slots of the cellular cutter, means for reciprocatingsaid second cutter across the slots of said first cutter whereby toslice the elongated cellular-like sections of material into a pluralityof shorter sections, said means including mechanism for moving saidsecond cutter bodily with the cellular cutter when the latter approachesand recedes from the material and for moving said second cutterrelatively to said first cutter when said rst cutter has out theelongated strips from the material and is in a stationary position,means for intermittently moving the conveyor in synchronized relation tothe movement of the cutting knives whereby said conveyor will be movedto bring fresh material into cutting position when the first and secondknives have been shifted away from cutting position, and ejector meansoperable to eject the cut material from the cellular cutter between twosuccessive cutting operations of the first mentioned cutter and betweentwo successive intermittent movements of the platform.

16. A dicer comprising a rst cutter comprising relatively stationaryblades arranged in sections and disposed angularly one with respect tothe other and spaced apart to form clearances between said sections, theblades ofsaid sections being in registration and forming a cellularconstruction7 and another set of blades operatively related to theblades of the sections and movable through the clearances between therespective sections to cut at an angle to the blades of the sections. asupporting surface for an object to be cut by the movement or theblades, means to reciprocate the blades toward and from the supportingsurface and means to eject the cut objects from the blades of thesections when the blades are raised away from the supporting surface.

17. In a material dicing machine, the combination of a transverselyslotted cellular receptacle having cutting edges at one side thereof,the cells of the receptacle forming parallel hollow columns, saidreceptacles being formed with transversely disposed, spaced apart slots,conveying means for moving material to be diced into registration withsaid cellular receptacle, means for moving said receptacie toward andaway from said material when fed into position by said conveyor, asecond cutting member having cutting edges complemental to the slots insaid receptacle, means for moving said second member transverselythrough the slots of said receptacle and means for moving said secondmember bodily with said receptacle.

18. A material dicing machine comprising a cellular receptacle havingcutting edges at one side thereof, said receptacle forming parallelcellular columns, said columns being provided with spaced apart slotsdisposed transversely of4 the longitudinal length of the columns, meansfor causing the cutting edges to move relatively to a body of materialto be diced to cause said material to be cut and to ll said columns, asecond cutting member having cutting edges complemental to the slots insaid receptacles and means for moving said second member transverselythrough the slots of said receptacle, and means adapted to be projectedthrough said hollow column after the passage of said second cuttertransversely through said slots for discharging the cut material fromsaid cells, and mechanisma for operating said plurality of means indefinite synchronism and sequence.

19. In a material dicing machine, the Vcombination of a support, aconveyor adapted to move horizontally across said support, means formoving said conveyor intermittently for feeding material to be diced toa dicing station, cellular means disposed at said dicing stationcomprising a plurality of angularly disposed knives in cellularformation to provide parallel, vertical, tubular column-like passageshaving their` lower ends formed as cutters, said knives being providedwith transversely disposed slots spaced apart vertically, means forraising and lowering said cellular knives to cause said knives to recedefrom and approach said conveyor, a series of horizontally disposedknives mounted. to register with the slots in said cellular knives,means for moving said horizontal knives transversely through the slotsof said cellular knives tol cut the colurnn of material in said hollowcolumns into smaller shapes, and a plurality of discharge membersdisposed normally above the cellular knives and in registration with thehollow, tubular passages and means for moving said discharge means andsaid cellular knives relatively to cause the discharge of said smallercut pieces from said cellular passages.

20. A dicer comprising a plurality of rows of relatively xed, angularlydisposed cutting blades arranged in spaced parallel relation and havingspaces within the cutting blades entirely unobstructed, means to supportan article to be cut on one side of the blades, means for moving theblades and article relatively to force the article to be cut into theunobstructed spaces within the cutting blades to thereby cut saidarticle to column-like sections, and knives positioned to operate in thespaces between the relatively iixed cutting blades and movabletransversely thereacross to out the column-like sections of the articleinto cubes without obstructing the relatively fixed cutting blades, andmeans automatically synchronized to act with the means for moving theblades and the article relatively whereby to cause the knives to move inthe spaces between the relatively fixed cutting blades after therelative movement between the first mentioned blades and the article tobe cut.

21. In a material dicing machine, the combination of means forming acellular structure, the cells of which are substantially elongatedrelatively to their cross section, the end walls of the cells of thestructure forming material cutting means, means for causing relativemotion between material to be dicedand said cellular structureY wherebyto causethe cutting means to cut the Y 4 adapted to move through one ofsaid slots, means 10 for automatically'shifting said knives after thevformation of said elongated columns` whereby toV cut the individualcolumns transversely into w smaller pieces, plunger means supported inVregistration with the elongated cells of the structure,

and means for effecting relative movement be.

tween the plunger means and saidrelongated cells after the movement ofsaid spaced cutting knives i transversely of said cells whereby todischarge the cut material from said cells.

HERBERTE. GRAY.

